asbury



D. F. ASBURY.

MEANB FOR PREVENTING GAS INTERFERENCE WITH PROIECTILESJ'N MULTIPLE GUNMOUNTINGS.

APPLICATION nuzu NOV. :8. 1916.

1,306,368. Patent-ed June 10, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

'D. F. AS'BURY. MEANS FOR PREVENTING GAS INTERFERENCE WITH PnoJEcTNEsmMULTIPLE GUN MOUNTINGS.

APPLlCATlON FILEO NOV. l8. I916.

Patented June 10, 1919.

2 SHIFTS-SHEET 2.

'' UNITED: STATES PATENT orrioa.

DORSEY F. asnoaror wasnmcron, manner or comnunam.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING GAS INTERFERENCE WITH PROJE CTILES IN :MULTIPLE-GUNMOUNTINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 18, 1916. Serial No. 132,217.

hereby declare the following to be a full,-

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the.

art. to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to means for preventing gas interference withprojectiles in multiple gun mountings.

It is well known that the escape of gas from the muzzle of heavy guns,as the projectile emerges from the bore, takes place at such velocitythat it will produce erratic flight of the projectile from an adjacentgun which may be fired at substantially the same instant. This gas flowsoutward and forward in a curved path in all radial directions and formsa figure resembling somewhat a paraboloid. of revolution. As itsvelocity drops eddy currents form and the gas rapidly disperses. As .itis the force of the blow which this gas exerts while traveling in theabove mentioned parabola, which deranges the flight of the projectilefrom the adjacent gun it is my purpose to provide means to divert andbreak up the flow ofgas so that it will expend itself without danger ofcoming in contact with the adjacent projectile- In the drawings chosento illustrate my invention, the scope whereof is set forth in theclaims, 1

Figure 1 is a front view of a turret multiple gun mounting with theturret omitted and showing the relation of the gas of explosion of onegun with respect to the adjament gun and with respect to the deck of aship when my invention is not employed;

Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the muzzle end of the right hand gun inFig. 1 show.- ing in plan the form assumed by the gas of explosion asthe projectile emerges from the bore Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1showing my invention incorporated the multiple gun mounting, and

Fig.4, a vlew similar to Fig. 2 with my invention incorporated. v

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 10 indicates the gun tube and 11 the muzzlehoop. The

Patented June 10, 1919.

outer ends of the tube and hoop register as will be observed and this isthe usual construction employed at the present time. By reference toFig. 1 it will be seen that the gas of explosion 12 of one gun flowsacross the muzzle of the adjacent gun and when both guns are fired atsubstantially the same moment the gas of explosion of one gun .will comein contact with the projectile emerging from the bore of the adjacent"gun and produce erratic flight of the adjacent projectile. It will alsobe observed that the gas 12 will come in contact with the deck 13 and inmany instances has caused the deck to buckle at the point where the blowwas struck- Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 which illustrate ,one form ofmy invention it will be observed that the muzzle end of the gun tube 10is disposed inwardly of the muzzle end of the hoop B and thus isproduced an extended end 14 of the gun hoop. In this extended end 14Icut slots 15 at rlght angles to each other and at substantiallyfortyfive degrees to the horizontal and vertical planes 1n which theguns train and elevate. -By providing the slots 15 I form projectingportions 16, 17, 18 and 19 which act as obstructions to the radial flowof gas in either a vertical or horizontal direction but permit itsescape up and down at a fortyve degree angle where it cannot exert anynormal pressure either on a projectile which may be fired from theadjacent gun or upon the deck 13 upon which the guns may be mounted.

- As the gun tube 10 terminates inwardly of the muzzle hoop theprojecting portions 16,

17, 18 and 19 will not come in contact withthe projectile. Also therewill be free escape of gas forward as soon as the projectile clears thegun tube,- but lateral flow has been broken up as above described.

My invention is applicable to multiple gun mountings where two or moreguns are mounted in the same emplacement, and, .for

the purpose of economy of weight and space, located soclose together asto cause last interference as previously described. As'

such mountings are usually formed on board ships of war the" inventionhas been developed with a view to relieving the strain on the deck whichhas frequently been found sufiicient to buckle it down. .Were this notconsidered in the form of invention illustrated and described but twoslots in a vertical plane would be 'suflicient to break up gasinterference with adjacent guns.

What is claimed is v -1. In a multiple gun mounting, the com.- binationwith a plurality of guns, of means associated with each gun forrestraining the expansion of the gas of explosion laterally in certaindirections whereby the gas of one gun will not act upon a projectiledischarged from an adjacent gun toderange the flight ranging the 3. In amultiple gun mounting, the combination with a plurality of gunsfof meansfor restraining lateral expansion of the gas of explosion in thedirection of a plane passingthrough the axes of the guns until theprojectiles have traveled a predetermined distance forward of the gunmuzzles where- 40 bination of a plura ity of guns having the muzzleportions of their bores enlarged and provided with lateral openings intheir barrels within the limits of the enlarged portions of the bores,said openings being disposed out of a plane passing through the axes ofthe guns whereby the gas of explosion is restrained against lateralexpansion in certain directions to prevent the gas of explosion of onegun from deranging the flight of a projectile discharged from anadjacent gun when said guns are fired at substantially the same moment.

5. In a multiple un mounting, the combination of a plurallty of guns,each of said guns comprising a gun, tube and a muzzle hoop extending apredetermined distance forward of the gun tube, said hoop being Iprovided with lateral openings forwardof the gun tube disposed out of aplane passing through the axes of the guns whereby the gas of explosionis restrained against lateral expansion to prevent the gas of explosionof one gun from deranging the flight of a projectile discharged from anadjacent gun when said guns are fired at substantially the same moment.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. DORSEY F. ASBURY.

Witnesses: Y

A. G. LEED, Jr., Eorrn STOWELL.

